Ata Rangi Craighall Chardonnay, Martinborough, New Zealand

新天地酒庄克雷格霍尔霞多丽白葡萄酒

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The 2011 Craighall Chardonnay is made from Mendoza clone fruit harvested from 29-year-old vines and aged in about 25% new oak (300-liter barrels) with 40% of the blend undergoing malo-lactic fermentation. It is more closed than the Petrie and has a bit more tropical fruit character accented with a nice toasty and nutty character, scents of apricots, almonds and a touch of ginger. The medium to full-bodied palate has a lovely satin-like texture that is rich and generously endowed with flavor layers before finishing long. It is approachable now and will drink to 2018+. A winery that really needs no introduction for NZ Pinot lovers, there’s not much for me to add about the long-serving, dedicated team behind Ata Rangi – they just go from strength to strength. The Pinots have always been great, and yet even in a world where the Pinot benchmark gets higher every year, Ata Rangi is better than ever. (Almost equally impressive though are Petrie and Craighall Chardonnays, clearly getting a lot of love in the cellar from highly skilled winemaker Helen Masters.)

The 2010 Craighall Chardonnay is redolent of warm apples, peaches, clotted cream and scone notes, with touches of cashews and baker's yeast. Medium-bodied with well-balanced, lively acidity, it has a silky texture and reveals both a savory and fruity charm in the mouth. It has a long and nutty finish. It's still very youthful and should drink best 2013 to 2017+. Importers: Epic Wines, Santa Cruz, CA; tel. (800) 568-8851; www.epic-wines.com; Cream Wine Company, Chicago, IL; tel. (312) 421-1900; www.creamwine.com; Verity Wine Partners, New York, NY; tel. (212) 683-8763; www.veritywines.com